Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
5,062,351
|
Kloster
|
November 5, 1991
|
Air diffuser for a motor vehicle
Abstract
A defrost diffuser in the dash plate of a motor vehicle includes an inlet
sleeve for receiving conditioned air and includes laterally spaced outlet
slots for distributing the air upwardly toward and laterally across the
windshield of the vehicle. A center outlet slot is in vertical registry
with the inlet sleeve and is located between two outboard slots.
Relatively large volume pods are spaced from opposite sides of the sleeve
and communicate therewith by way of restricted channels. The pods define
static regain chambers to reduce the velocity effect of the airflow toward
the outboard outlet slots and to promote a more even distribution of the
airflow from the center slot and the outboard slots. For economy of
manufacture, the diffuser is made as an integral one-piece molded plastic
unit.
Inventors:
|
Kloster; John M. (Caledonia, IL)
|
Assignee:
|
Atwood Industries, Inc. (Rockford, IL)
|
Appl. No.:
|
589190 |
Filed:
|
September 27, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
454/127 |
Intern'l Class: |
B60S 001/54 |
Field of Search: |
98/2.08,2.09,90,91,92
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4522114 | Jun., 1985 | Matsund | 98/2.
|
4604946 | Aug., 1986 | Watanabe | 98/2.
|
4693416 | Sep., 1987 | Hayakawa | 98/2.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
174049 | Oct., 1983 | JP | 98/2.
|
Primary Examiner: Joyce; Harold
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Leydig, Voit & Mayer
Claims
I claim:
1. A diffuser for receiving conditioned air from supply hose means and for
distributing such air upwardly toward and laterally across the windshield
of a motor vehicle, said diffuser being molded of plastic and being formed
with a laterally elongated hollow body having an upper portion and a lower
portion, a laterally elongated and horizontally disposed mounting flange
extending around the outer periphery of said body and having a lower side
located between the upper and lower portions of the body, said upper
portion of said body comprising a laterally elongated and horizontally
disposed top plate, three laterally spaced and laterally elongated outlet
slots formed vertically through said top plate, one of said slots being a
center slot and the other two of said slots being first and second
outboard slots spaced laterally from opposite ends of said center slot,
the lower portion of said body comprising (A) a vertically extending inlet
sleeve disposed in registry with said center slot and adapted for
connection to said supply hose means, (B) first and second pods disposed
in registry with said first and second outboard slots, respectively, and
spaced laterally from said sleeve, each of said pods being defined by a
bottom wall located a predetermined distance below said flange, by a pair
of laterally extending side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall
to the lower side of said flange, by an outboard end wall extending
upwardly from said bottom wall to the lower side of said flange at the
outboard ends of said side walls, and by an inboard end wall extending
upwardly from said bottom wall at the inboard ends of said side walls and
terminating short of the lower side of said flange, and (C) first and
second channels extending laterally between said sleeve and said first and
second pods, respectively, to establish communication from said sleeve to
said pods, the depth and volume of each channel being substantially less
than the depth and volume of the respective pod whereby said pods define
static regain chambers to promote substantially uniform distribution of
air through the three slots.
2. A diffuser as defined in claim 1 in which said upper portion, said lower
portion and said mounting flange are an integral one-piece unit.
3. A diffuser as defined in claim 2 in which said flange includes an upper
side spaced vertically from said lower side, and a web extending between
said sides around the outer periphery of said flange.
4. A diffuser as defined in claim 1 in which said top plate is spaced
upwardly from said flange, and downwardly projecting walls extending from
the periphery of said top plate and joined to said flange.
5. A diffuser as defined in claim 1 in which each of said channels is
defined by a generally horizontal lower wall spaced above the bottom wall
of the respective pod and extending laterally between the upper margin of
the inboard end wall of such pod and the adjacent side of said sleeve,
each of siad channels further being defined by a pair of laterally
extending side walls extending upwardly from said lower wall to the lower
side of said flange.
6. A diffuser as defined in claim 1 further including three additional
laterally spaced and laterally elongated slots formed vertically through
said top plate, said additional slots being spaced laterally along said
plate from said first outboard slot, one of said additional slots being a
middle slot and the other two of said additional slots being spaced
laterally from opposite ends of said middle slots and being first and
second additional outboard slots, said first additional outboard slot
being in registry with said first pod, the lower portion of said body
further comprising (D) an additional vertically extending inlet sleeve
disposed in registry with said middle slot, spaced laterally from said
first pod and adapted for connection to said supply hose means, (E) an
additional pod disposed in registry with said second additional outboard
slot and spaced laterally from said additional sleeve, said additional pod
being defined by a bottom wall located a predetermined distance below said
flange, by a pair of laterally extending side walls extending upwardly
from said bottom wall to the lower side of said flange, by an outboard end
wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall to the lower side of said
flange at the outboard ends of said side walls, and by an inboard end wall
extending upwardly from said bottom wall at the inboard ends of said side
walls and terminating short of the lower side of said flange, (F) an
additional channel extending laterally between said additional sleeve and
said additional pod, and (G) a further channel extending laterally between
said additional sleeve and said first pod, the depth and volume of said
additional channel and said further channel being less than the depth and
volume of said additional pod and said first pod, respectively.
7. A diffuser for receiving conditioned air from a supply hose and for
distributing such air upwardly toward and laterally across the windshield
of a motor vehicle having an upwardly facing dash plate with a laterally
elongated and laterally extending hole formed vertically therethrough,
said diffuser being of one-piece molded plastic construction and having a
horizontal and a laterally elongated mounting plate adapted to engage the
upper side of said dash plate around the margins of said hole and in
overlying relation with said margins, said mounting plate having a
laterally elongated and laterally extending opening formed vertically
therethrough, a cap for covering said opening, said cap having a
horizontal and a laterally elongated top plate spaced above said mounting
plate and overlying said opening and having walls depending from the
periphery of said top plate and joined to the upper side of the mounting
plate, three laterally spaced and laterally elongated outlet slots formed
vertically through the top plate of said cap, one of said slots being a
center slot and the other two of said slots being first and second
outboard slots located adjacent opposite ends of said center slot, a
sleeve depending from said mounting plate in underlying relation with said
center slot and communicating with said opening in said mounting plate,
said sleeve being adapted to project downwardly into said hole in said
dash plate and being adapted for connection to said supply hose, first and
second hollow pods spaced laterally from opposite sides of said sleeve and
depending from said mounting plate in underlying relation with said first
and second outboard slots, respectively, each of said pods communicating
with said opening in said mounting plate and being adapted to extend
downwardly into said hole in said dash plate, each of said pods being
defined by a generally horizontal bottom wall located a predetermined
distance below said mounting plate, by a pair of laterally extending side
walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall to the lower side of said
mounting plate, by an outboard end wall extending upwardly from said
bottom wall to the lower side of said mounting plate at the outboard ends
of said side walls, and by an inboard end wall extending upwardly from
said bottom wall at the inboard ends of said side walls and terminating
short of the lower side of said mounting plate, and first and second
hollow channels for establishing communication between said sleeve and
said first and second pods, respectively, each channel extending laterally
between said sleeve and the inboard end of the respective pod and
depending from said mounting plate, each of said channels communicating
with the opening in said mounting plate and extending downwardly into the
hole in said dash plate, and each of said channels being defined by a
generally horizontal lower wall spaced above the bottom wall of the
respective pod and extending laterally between the upper margin of the
inboard end wall of such pod and the adjacent side of said sleeve, each of
said channels further being defined by a pair of laterally extending side
walls extending upwardly from said lower wall to the lower side of said
mounting plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an air diffuser and, more particularly,
to a diffuser for use with the defroster system of a motor vehicle for
distributing conditioned air upwardly toward and laterally across the
windshield of the vehicle.
Presently available defroster diffusers comprise an elongated hollow body
made of plastic and adapted to fit within a hole in the dash plate of the
vehicle.
An inlet sleeve projects downwardly from the body and is adapted to be
connected to a hose leading from the heater blower of the vehicle.
Laterally spaced and laterally elongated outlet slots are formed through
the upper side of the diffuser body and distribute air from the sleeve
toward the windshield. Usually, one of the outlet slots is centered
relative to the inlet sleeve while other slots are spaced from opposite
ends of the center slot.
In conventional diffusers, the velocity effect of the airflow tends to
produce a larger volume of flow through the outboard slots than through
the center slot. As a result, the distribution of air across the
windshield is uneven.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and improved
diffuser which, when compared with prior diffusers of the same general
type, produces a more uniformly distributed airflow through the slots and
across the windshield.
A more detailed object of the invention is to achieve the foregoing through
the provision of a diffuser having unique pods which coact with restricted
channels to define static regain chambers for reducing the velocity effect
of the airflow and for evening out the flow of air from the multiple
outlet slots.
The invention also resides in the comparatively economical one-piece
plastic construction of the diffuser.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical motor vehicle
equipped with one embodiment of a new and improved diffuser incorporating
the unique features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the diffuser exploded from the dash
plate of the vehicle.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken laterally through the diffuser
shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the diffuser.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged cross-sections taken substantially along the
lines 7--7, 8--8 and 9--9, respectively, of FIG. 3.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but shows another embodiment of a
diffuser incorporating the features of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of illustration, the air diffuser 20 of the invention has been
shown in the drawings in conjunction with a motor vehicle such as a van 21
having an upwardly facing dash plate 22. The diffuser is adapted to be
inserted into a laterally elongated hole 23 (FIG. 2) in the dash plate and
is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose 24 leading from the heater
blower of the van. When the climate control system of the van is in a
defrost mode, the diffuser distributes heated air upwardly toward and
laterally across the windshield 25 of the van. For simplicity of
illustration, a single diffuser 20 has been shown at the center portion of
the dash plate 22. It will be appreciated that multiple diffusers could be
spaced laterally across the dash plate and that the diffuser could be used
with a side or rear window.
The present invention contemplates the provision of a diffuser 20 which,
while being of extremely simple and economical construction, is capable of
producing a substantially uniform airflow across its length. The diffuser
is particularly characterized in that it reduces the velocity effect of
the air flowing from the inlet hose 24 and causes the airflow at the end
portions of the diffuser to be substantially the same as the airflow at
the center portion of the diffuser.
More specifically, the diffuser 20 is molded of plastic and preferably is
an integral one-piece unit. The present one-piece diffuser is blow molded
although the diffuser could be formed by a rotational spin molding
process.
The one-piece diffuser 20 includes a laterally elongated hollow body having
an upper portion 30, a lower portion 31 and an intermediate mounting plate
or flange 32 located between the upper and lower portions. The lower
portion 31 of the diffuser 20 is adapted to fit within the hole 23 of the
dash plate 22 while the flange 32 engages the upper side of the dash
plate.
As shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting flange 32 is generally
in the shape of a racetrack and includes laterally elongated sides and
rounded ends. Holes 33 are formed through the end portions of the flange
and are adapted to receive screws (not shown) for fastening the diffuser
to the dash plate 22.
In this particular instance, the mounting flange 32 is hollow and is
defined by a generally horizontal upper side 34 (FIG. 7), by a generally
horizontal lower side 35 and by an upright web 36 which extends between
the two sides around the outer peripheries thereof. In effect, the inner
periphery of the flange defines an opening between the upper and lower
portions 30 and 31 of the diffuser 20. That opening is closed off at its
upper end by a cap which defines the upper portion 30 of the diffuser
body. The cap includes a horizontal and a laterally elongated top plate 37
(FIGS. 3, 5 and 7) which is spaced above the upper side 34 of the mounting
flange 32. Walls 38 (FIGS. 4 and 7) depend from the periphery of the top
plate 37 of the cap 30 and are joined to the upper side of the flange.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, three laterally
spaced and laterally elongated outlet slots 40, 41 and 42 (FIGS. 2 and 5)
are formed vertically through the top plate 37 of the cap 30. The slot 41
is located between the slots 40 and 42 and thus is a center slot while the
slots 40 and 42 are outboard slots. Air supplied to the diffuser 20 via
the hose 24 is distributed upwardly against the windshield 25 by way of
the slots.
The lower portion 31 of the diffuser 20 is formed with a central inlet
sleeve 45 which is adapted to be connected to the supply hose 24. Herein,
the sleeve is oval in shape and depends from the inner periphery of the
lower side 35 of the flange 32 in centered relation with the center outlet
slot 41. The long dimension of the slot 41 is somewhat greater than the
long dimension of the inlet sleeve 45.
In carrying out the invention, the lower portion 31 of the diffuser body is
formed with pods 46 and 47 disposed on laterally opposite sides of the
inlet sleeve 45 and located in approximate vertical registry with the
outboard outlet slots 40 and 42, respectively. The pods define static
regain chambers 48 and 49 (FIG. 3), respectively, to prevent excess
airflow from the outboard slots 40 and 42 and to enable the airflow from
those slots to closely approximate that from the center slot 41.
As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pods 46 and 47 are spaced in
laterally opposite directions from the laterally facing sides of the inlet
sleeve 45. Each pod is defined by a generally horizontal bottom wall 50
spaced a predetermined distance below the lower side 35 of the mounting
flange 32 and a predetermined distance above the lower end of the sleeve
45. Laterally extending side walls 51 (FIGS. 4 and 9) extend vertically
from the long margins of the bottom wall 50 to the lower side 35 of the
mounting flange 32. At the outboard ends of the side walls 51, an outboard
end wall 52 (FIG. 3) curves upwardly and gradually from the bottom wall 50
to the lower side 35 of the flange 32. At the opposite ends of the side
walls 51, an inboard end wall 53 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 50
but terminates short of the lower side 35 of the flange 32. The total
length of each pod 46, 47 is somewhat greater than the length of the
respective slot 40, 42 while the width of the pods is somewhat greater
than that of the overlying cap 30.
Further in keeping with the invention, the pods 46 and 47 communicate with
the inlet sleeve 45 by way of channels 56 and 57 (FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 8),
respectively, having a depth and volume substantially less than the depth
and volume of the pods. Air flowing into the pods through the restricted
channels expands in the static regain chambers 48, 49 defined by the pods
and thus the channels and pods coact to reduce the air velocity which
otherwise would tend to produce a greater airflow through the outboard
slots 40 and 42.
More specifically, each channel 56, 57 is defined by a generally horizontal
lower wall 58 (FIGS. 3 and 8) spaced below the mounting flange 32 but
spaced a substantial distance above the bottom wall 50 of the pod 46, 47.
Each lower wall 58 extends laterally from the upper margin of the inboard
end wall 53 of the respective pod and leads to the adjacent side of the
sleeve 45 between the upper and lower ends thereof. Laterally extending
side walls 59 (FIG. 8) extend upwardly from the lower wall 58 to the lower
side 35 of the flange 32 to complete the channels 56, 57. Each channel
thus defines a restricted passageway 60 between the sleeve and the
respective pod.
With the foregoing arrangement, part of the air entering the inlet sleeve
45 flows directly out of the overlying center slot 41 while the remaining
air splits in two laterally opposite directions for flow through the
channels 56 and 57 to the pods 46 and 47, respectively. By virtue of the
air being restricted upon flowing through the channels of relatively small
depth and volume and then expanding into the pods of greater depth and
volume, the inertial or velocity effect of the laterally flowing air is
reduced so as to avoid a rush of air through the outboard slots 40 and 42.
As a result, a more even distribution of air is produced through all three
slots 40, 41 and 42 so as to effect more uniform clearing of the
windshield.
A modified diffuser 70 is shown in FIG. 10 and is essentially the same as
but is longer than the diffuser 20. The diffuser 70 includes two laterally
spaced input sleeves 71 and 72, outboard pods 73 and 74 at the outboard
sides of the sleeves, and a somewhat longer pod 75 between the sleeves and
connected thereto by channels 76 and 77. The pod 73 is connected to the
sleeve 71 by a channel 78 while the pod 74 is connected to the sleeve 72
by a channel 79. Outlet slots are in vertical registry with the sleeves 71
and 72 and the pods 73 and 74 the same as in the first embodiment while
two additional outlet slots are in vertical registry with the pod 75. The
various slots are indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 10 and are designated
as A, B, C, D, E and F.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings
to the art a new and improved multi-slot diffuser which is capable of
producing substantially uniform airflow through the various outlet slots.
Because the diffuser is of a one-piece molded plastic construction, it
requires no assembly of components and thus is relatively economical to
produce.
Top